Nate McMillan on Greg Oden: 'I like where his head is at'

View full sizeBruce Ely/The OregonianThe Blazers hope that a summer of rehabilitation will leave Greg Oden at 100 percent by the opening of October training camp.

Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan said he met with Greg Oden recently, after which he was encouraged with the oft-injured center's mindset as he prepares to embark on a summer of rehabilitation.

"I like where his head is at,'' McMillan said. "We talked about where his mind is, and what he needs to do to get back, and the thing is, he knows how to get there. But I liked what I heard.''

Oden fractured his left kneecap in the first quarter of a Dec. 5 game against Houston. Oden played in 21 games, averaging 11.1 points and 8.5 rebounds.

Oden is scheduled to start running in early to mid-July, and should start playing 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 by mid-August. The goal is to have him ready to participate in 5-on-5 action the first week of September, when many of the Blazers players return to Portland for informal scrimmages.

The plan, McMillan says, is for Oden to be 100 percent by the opening of October training camp. On Wednesday, McMillan said he remains encouraged that the October goal is attainable.

"A big part of it is going to be mental ... him trusting (the knee),'' McMillan said. "But he's been through this before and I thought last year he came into camp and his mind was right.''

McMillan said Oden will rehabilitate in both Portland and his hometown of Indianapolis, with athletic trainer Jay Jensen, strength and conditioning coach Bobby Medina and assistant coach Bill Bayno heading the workouts.